MR. C. T. RUSSELL--DEAR BROTHER
IN THE LORD:--I now again send
you my subscription for two copies of
the TOWER, also the names of two others.
I have been thinking that those
who get the TOWER here might come
together. All that I have seen of the
readers seem to be thinking about the
same thing. We would like some instructions
as to what we had better do.
I am at present a Sunday School teacher
here in the Church of England....

I shall be very truly thankful to
you if you will tell me what we had
better do, about holding a service together
to study the Word of God.

DEAR BROTHER:--In answer to your
inquiry, I would simply repeat the Apostle's
counsel: "Forsake not the assembling
of yourselves together, and so
much the more as ye see the day approaching."
--Heb. 10:25. But don't
let any undue stiffness or formality hinder
you or others from enjoying the liberty
wherewith Christ hath made you
free. Enjoy your liberty to search the
Scriptures, and speak freely one to another,
remembering that all ye are brethren,
and one only is your Lord.

Meetings from house to house are
conducive to free and profitable interchange
of thought.

The main object of such meetings
should be to build one another up in
the most holy faith, to more firmly unite
your hearts in love, and to help bear
one another's burdens, by your sympathy
and by your common sharing of
the same sufferings, in your united
efforts to preach the truth according to
your ability; and the more actively you
are engaged in trying to preach the truth
to others, the more interesting will your
evening meetings become. The need
of such conferences as helps will be felt
by all thus engaged.

The only test of Christian brotherhood
[R836 : page 5]
and fellowship is Faith in our Lord
Jesus Christ as the one whom Jehovah
set forth to be the propitiation for our
sins; and not for ours only, but also for
the sins of the whole world. Any one
who accepts this foundation principle
of our faith is ready to build a superstructure
thereon. And for the purpose
of selecting the proper materials--the
gold, silver, and precious stones of truth,
and properly fitting and locating them,
you meet together.

Order is of course necessary to the
accomplishment of any definite purpose,
and it is therefore well when a number
meet together, for some brother or sister
to act as a leader or moderator, and if
this duty falls upon each in turn, it may
be to the mutual advantage.

Organization, as commonly understood,
and as illustrated in the various
sects to-day, we could in no sense commend;
it is a bondage contrary to the
spirit of Christ and the apostles, as well
as to their words. Such organization
prevents growth in knowledge, as well
as hinders the rejection of errors of
wood, hay and stubble, already received.
It selects by purely human election certain
men as the only authorized teachers,
and so binds them to traditions, that
they can neither walk nor teach others
to walk in the path of the just,
"which shineth more and more unto the
perfect day," while they remain in such
organizations. Hence, such organizations
are not only not of God, but are
radically opposed to God's methods.

To have our "names written in heaven"
is quite sufficient; Jesus and the
apostles counseled and practiced no
more. All the members of the family of
God will be able to discern the family likeness
without a written description, and
the world may know us by our fruits.
Our union in Christ needs no bondage
but love; it will firmly unite all his
members to each other as it unites them
to him, their head, and to the Father.

Accepting God's word as truth, each
believes so much of it as his consecrated
mind is able to understand by the aid of
the various helps provided, including
the assistance of fellow members (Jude 20).
This is the only kind of organization
or union recognized in Scripture.
In this organization God can and does
make choice of some more than others
for the good of all (1 Cor. 12:18-31,
and 14:3-12); and such are recognized
by their brethren and fellow-servants by
the ability which God giveth them to
bring forth treasures and things new and
old, from the storehouse--the Bible--
which will stand the investigation of all
and every Scriptural test which can
be reasonably applied to it. Thus the
Lord instructs, feeds, builds up in
most holy faith, and causes the entire
body to grow in grace, knowledge and
love unto the full stature of the body of
Christ.

The apostles at the first appointed
deacons and elders in each city to have
charge of the affairs of the Church, and
to moderate or rule as chairmen of
meetings, etc., but they did not constitute
a perpetual clerical hierarchy.
True, they appointed and did not
elect these officers at first; but this
was probably because the churches
were not sufficiently instructed, as well
as because the apostles were specially
authorized and qualified to do it for
them. But it is evident that afterward
the members of the body at each place,
guided by the spirit of truth, were entirely
capable of electing successors to
the offices of elder and deacon. The
Deacons looked after temporal interests,
while the Elders (sometimes termed
Presbyters or Bishops) attended specially
to the spiritual interests; but there
is no evidence (except to the contrary)
that the Elders monopolized all the time
or authority of teaching the brethren
and fellow-members. This is evident
from 1 Cor. 12:20,24,25,27-31. All
are not apostles, all are not orators, all
have not the gift of teaching, but each
may and should use the gifts possessed
as directed in
1 Cor. 14:26,29-31,33,39,40.

But seeing the danger of human organization,
and the tendency to follow
present illustrations rather than the
method of the apostles, we advise that
brethren be chosen for the necessary
business merely as such emergency may
arise, each using his liberty in Christ in
the service of others; in honor preferring
one another, except where all possess
about the same talents. Thus, for the
little while that remains, we shall look
more directly to the Head of the body
for direction, being without other authorities
and rulers in the body--as it was in
his first presence. Let every member,
every disciple, look to the one Lord and
Head of all.

A simple prayer at the beginning for
the Lord's blessing, or if convenient, a
hymn also, would be an appropriate
opening of such meetings, to be followed
with the earnest, united effort of all to
arrive at a clear understanding of His
truth, by his own appointed means, comparing
scripture with scripture, and accepting
its teaching in simple faith, however
it may overthrow long cherished
errors. This every sincere child of God
will do; and if any do not, their lack of
faith should not weaken the faith or retard
the others from progress--growth
in grace, and knowledge, and love.

The time should be given chiefly to
this work of searching the Scriptures to
prove "whether these things be so."
In our prayers we speak to God, but
through the Scriptures he speaks to us.
Then let him thus speak to your hearts
and to your judgments, and be "swift to
hear." A simple prayer of thanksgiving
and a hymn or two of praise before
parting, are appropriate, solemn, and
impressive, if from the heart; every
hymn should be regarded as a prayer
in metre.

You say you are a teacher in the Sunday
School. I hope you are letting the
light which God has given you shine;
out clear and strong. Don't fail to use
every opportunity to let your light shine,
for this is not a Gospel of which you
need be ashamed. But in all probability
you will soon find that, with a very few
exceptions, they will not want your light,
but showing their disapproval, will endeavor
to have you keep silence about
it. If you are a faithful steward you
will not do this. It is your business to
let the light shine; and the truth you
will preach at any cost. Do it boldly,
and it will cost you considerable. It
will either lead to the conversion of that
congregation to the truth, or it will lead
to your separation from them. You
will either go out, or they will cast you
out. But if the latter course would attract
most attention to the truth, and
best bring the light to the people's
knowledge, that is the way we should
prefer,--not to attract attention to yourself,
but to the truth,--that even thus
you may reach some.

In the case of ministers, the manner
of escape from Babylon is necessarily
somewhat different. Most ministers are
bound by their ordination vows to
preach only the doctrines of their particular
sect, hence in such cases that relationship
must be broken, before they
are FREE to proclaim the whole truth,
as taught by the Word of God.